THE CONCEPT OF HUMAN SLAVERY: A HISTORICAL STUDY OF ITS CAUSES, EVOLUTION, AND IMPACTS (FROM THE ANCIENT PERIOD TO THE MODERN ERA)

Abstract

Human slavery is one of the oldest and most complex social institutions in human history, existing in various forms across different civilizations and historical periods. This study examines the concept of human slavery from antiquity to the modern era, focusing on its causes, evolution, and long-term impacts within a historical framework. The primary causes of slavery included economic needs, war captives, political domination, racial and class-based discrimination, and social inequality. In ancient civilizations such as Greece, Rome, and Mesopotamia, slavery was considered an essential component of the socio-economic system, where enslaved individuals were employed in agriculture, domestic service, and military support.During the medieval period, slavery evolved through feudal and colonial structures, leading to systematic exploitation of human labor. The modern era, particularly under European colonial expansion and the transatlantic slave trade, witnessed slavery on an unprecedented scale, especially affecting African societies. However, the same period also marked the rise of humanitarian thought, enlightenment ideals, and human rights movements, which challenged the moral and ethical legitimacy of slavery. These movements ultimately contributed to the legal abolition of slavery in many parts of the world. Despite formal abolition, modern forms of slavery such as human trafficking, forced labor, and economic exploitation continue to exist. This study highlights the historical development of slavery and analyzes its profound social, economic, and moral consequences across different eras.